Although MCs (mast cells) were discovered over 100 years ago, for the majority of this time their function was linked almost exclusively to allergy and allergic disease with few other roles in health and disease. The engineering of MC-deficient mice and engraftment of these mice with MCs deficient in receptors or mediators has advanced our knowledge of the role of MCs in vivo. It is now known that MCs have very broad and varied roles in both physiology and disease which will be reviewed here with a focus on some of the most recent discoveries over the last year. MCs can aid in maintaining a healthy physiology by secreting mediators that promote wound healing and homoeostasis as well as interacting with neurons. Major developments have been made in understanding MC function in defence against pathogens, in recognition of pathogens as well as direct effector functions. Probably the most quickly developing area of understanding is the involvement and contribution MCs make in the progression of a variety of diseases from some of the most common diseases to the more obscure.
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Review Article|
February 15 2011
Mast cells in health and disease
Charlotte L. Weller;
* Leukocyte Biology Section, Medical Research Council and Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
Correspondence: Dr Charlotte L. Weller at the present address: Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited, Horsham, West Sussex RH125 AB, U.K. (email [email protected]).
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Sarah J. Collington;
Sarah J. Collington
† Department of Pathology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, U.S.A.
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Tim Williams;
Tim Williams
* Leukocyte Biology Section, Medical Research Council and Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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Jonathan R. Lamb
Jonathan R. Lamb
‡ Immunology and Infection Section, Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
September 27 2010
Revision Received:
November 17 2010
Accepted:
November 25 2010
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2011 Biochemical Society
2011
Clin Sci (Lond) (2011) 120 (11): 473–484.
Article history
Received:
September 27 2010
Revision Received:
November 17 2010
Accepted:
November 25 2010
Citation
Charlotte L. Weller, Sarah J. Collington, Tim Williams, Jonathan R. Lamb; Mast cells in health and disease. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 June 2011; 120 (11): 473–484. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20100459
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